Patent GB-190824414-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Igniting Miners Safety Lamps, especially suitable for use in the Underground Workings of Mines and in like places.
Inventor: HAILWOOD ERNEST ARTHUR
Filed: 1907-12-09
Granted: 1908-12-09
Abstract: 24,414. Hailwood, E. A. Dec. 9, 1907. Miners' safety lamps are ignited underground in an apparatus which permits a self - contained frictional igniter of the fulminating or match type to be operated to ignite the lamp only when the apparatus has been completely closed and rendered flame-proof. A recording-device and a coin-freed mechanism may be combined with the apparatus. As shown in Fig. 1, the lamp is contained in a chamber A provided with an aperture D, through which, when an outer chamber B is revolved to close the opening to the chamber A, a spring-controlled operating-device C passes. By means of a screw-thread or claw C<5> on the device C, the frictional igniter in the lamp L is then operated. The chamber A may be provided with a hinged door which automatically closes as the outer chamber B is revolved, or the chamber A may revolve to close this door. The chambers A, B may be locked in the closed position by a spring- controlled locking-device G arranged in a recess G<1> in a wall integral with the chamber A. The lock G<1> is unlocked by a key such as a hollow spindle provided with a left-hand thread. In a modification, Fig. 11, the operating-device C is arranged in a revoluble chamber A and the device C is automatically raised at the proper time by a cam-path P<3>, which engages a freely-mounted roller P' on the device C, and the device C is rotated to effect the ignition by a pinion P engaged by a rack P'. Two racks as P<5> may be used, the second one serving to withdraw the device C. In a further modification, Fig. 5, the chamber A is provided with a sliding door B provided. with an under flange B<1> which carries the operating-device C. The lamp L may be clamped in the chamber A by means of a hinged clamp as E, Fig. 1, or during the actuation of the device C the lamp may be held and rotated by a clip F,Fig. 5, with handles F'. The device C may be arranged in the side of a chamber. As shown in Fig. 6, the friction device is operated by a magnet, preferably an electro-magnet. The lamp L is held by a spring plunger P, and when the chamber A is rotated and the chambers closed, a spring-controlled electro-magnet core M<2> passes into the chamber A, and the electric terminals J, J<1> contact, or a switch J<1> is closed. The circuit to an electro-magnet M is completed by depressing a lever N<3>, which works in a guarded slot in casing T. The lever N<3> actuates a rod N<1> which forces a terminal J<8> into contact with a guarded terminal J<4>. When the magnet M is energized, the core M' magnetically attracts the friction operating-device, and on further lowering the lever N<3>,a ring N on the rod N' depresses the core M<2>, and the friction igniter is operated, In a further modification, the chamber A is quadrant-shaped in section, and is hinged at one side to the chamber B, so that the chamber A can be turned on its hinges and be completely enclosed in the chamber B, the chamber A serving also as a door. The apparatus may be fitted with a recording-device consisting of a pencil which marks a paper or a cylinder each time the apparatus is operated in one direction. A locking-lever T<5>, Fig.12, for one of the chambers A, B, may be actuated by coin freed mechanism, and the number of tallies serves as a record. The tallies may be numbered to indicate the last person to use the apparatus. The coin or tally passes down a shoot T<2> to a spring-balanced arm T' which delivers it to a balanced lever T<3>. An arm T<4>of the lever T<3> forces the spring-controlled lever T<5> away from the locking-recess T<6>. The coin or tally is tipped from the lever T3 by a cord T<8> actuated by a cam-groove and a spring piece U'. The lamp may be attached to the base-ring by a bayonet-joint, and, as shown in Fig. 10, the chamber A is provided with semicircular clips L<2> carried by angle-levers L<3> with projections which are actuated by cam-paths L<4> in the chamber B to force the clip L<2> into contact with the lamp. The chambers A, B may be formed of thin sheet metal, and may be permanently attached to the lamp, the light passing through the lamp-admission door when the lamp is lit.